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Born Blue, Turned True
Son of former Michigan Wolverine, T.J. Downing now bleeds only scarlet and gray
Oct. 7, 2006 by Pat Kindig
T.J. Downing grew up a Michigan fan, and for good reason. His father, Walt Downing, was an All-American football player for the Wolverines from 1974-77 and the elder Downing ingrained Michigan into his son from day one.
T.J. attended Michigan games with his father and donned the Maize and Blue with pride, rooting on the Wolverines, especially when they played their biggest rival - the Ohio State Buckeyes.
"Growing up most of my life in Ohio, I never followed Ohio State," Downing, who grew up in Canton, said. "I followed Michigan because my dad went there. I used to go to games with my dad and tailgate with his former teammates. That was during the 1990s, when they won a national championship. There was a lot to cheer about for sure."
Now before Ohio State fans stand on their bleacher seats and begin to boo No. 72, they should stop and take notice that these days Downing bleeds nothing but scarlet and gray. He is one of the most spirited Buckeyes on the team and has assumed a valuable leadership role for the 2006 squad.
Downing is one of the first players to emerge from the Ohio Stadium tunnel before games and is perhaps the most boisterous Buckeye urging the crowd of 104,000-plus to make as much noise as possible.
"For me, to be vocal works as motivation," Downing said. "It gets me hyped. It also makes me put more pressure on myself to perform at a high level."
Now in his fifth season at Ohio State and second as a full-time starter, Downing has transformed that same energy into being an effective vocal leader and motivator for his Buckeye teammates.
He cautioned though, when acting as a vocal leader, a player has to take into account teammates react in different ways to that sort of motivation.
"You have to be careful," Downing, who sports a mohawk haircut under his Buckeye helmet, said. "You have to be selective because everybody responds differently. Some guys clam up and hide. Being vocal with them almost makes things worse. On the other hand, some guys really step up to that vocal challenge and play better. You just have to approach it differently with each case."
Downing attributes his leadership position to the long line of accomplished teammates he has played alongside on the Ohio State offensive line.
"It is a learned role," Downing said. "I had the advantage of playing with
Shane Olivea,
Alex Stepanovich,
Adrien Clarke,
Bryce Bishop and
Ivan Douglas. I learned from them and have applied that to the way I have taught the younger guys.
"Playing with
Rob Sims and
Nick Mangold last season also makes me consider myself a leader. They looked at you to do a job and do it well. Nick is the best center I have ever seen. Rob is the most powerful and explosive player I have ever played with. Playing alongside them, you have to try and match their abilities. Doing that turned me into a leader."
As a three-year starter at Michigan, Downing's father knows what it takes to be a leader and thinks his son has fit comfortably into that role.
"T.J. has matured over his five years," Walt, who played guard and center for Michigan, said. "When someone takes a redshirt season like T.J., they get the opportunity to get that extra year under their belt and absorb things. All of that has allowed his overall game plan to fall in place.
"Now, he is on top of his game physically and mentally. He has played great in all the big games and has no fear going into any game. T.J. is a leader on that offensive line and I love that. He truly has embraced that role. I am so proud of his maturity, dedication and outstanding love for the game."
In his father, T.J. could not have asked for a better mentor. Walt's football credentials speak for themselves.
A starter in three Ohio State-Michigan games, Walt's UM teams claimed victory in his final two contests vs. Ohio State in 1976 and `77 to earn Rose Bowl berths each year. He was an All-American in 1977 and was an All-Big Ten honoree in 1976 and '77. In 1976, he helped pave the way for the Michigan offense to rack up a NCAA-best 4,144 yards rushing, a year after the Wolverines totaled more than 3,800 yards on the ground. To put that in perspective, only two NCAA teams have rushed for 4,000 yards or more since the 2000 season.
Following his senior year at Michigan, Walt was a second-round selection of the San Francisco 49ers in the 1978 NFL Draft. He played six seasons for the 49ers and helped the franchise win its first Vince Lombardi Trophy with a 26-21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI.
His father's career has allotted T.J. an invaluable resource to tap into for guidance and advice.
"Having my dad to talk to is a huge advantage," T.J., who along with teammates
Troy Smith and
Doug Datish graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in August, said. "I try to get with him immediately after a game and ask what he saw and what he thinks I need to work on. I ask him if I am giving any signs to the defense. He has great expertise for that. He won a Super Bowl ring with the 49ers and knows what it takes to succeed."
Walt enjoys talking to his son after games, but sometimes forgets T.J. is his son and gets lost in the football-side of the conversation.
"He always asks me what the pros and cons of his game were that day," Walt said. "I always am more analytical as opposed to being a parent, but I think T.J. appreciates that because he knows that's how he's going to continue to get better. As a parent and as an advisor, I could not be more pleased. He's been playing great."
Walt watches T.J. intently and has observed many similarities between the way he played and how his son performs.
"T.J. is like I was," Walt said. "We were not the most technical lineman, but we are both physical. I played for Bill Walsh (former head coach for the San Francisco 49ers) and he loved guys who wanted to set a physical example. I was a physical player at Michigan and with San Francisco and T.J. has followed in my footsteps. T.J. is not always the best technique guy, but he is a guy you want in your corner because he is going to battle to the end."
T.J. said his mother, Susan Downing, is not to be forgotten when it comes to giving him football advice.
"My mom tells me things too," T.J. said. "Sometimes she feels left out since my dad was the former pro, but she remembers things from my dad playing and lets me know if she sees me do something I shouldn't. She always throws in her two cents."
After he finished his scholastic career at Canton GlenOak High School, Downing tapped into both his parents for direction when choosing where to go to college and play football. However, he said his father's Michigan ties did not play into his decision, whatsoever.
"My parents never swayed me either way," T.J. said. "The decision was completely up to me. I made it clear to them I wanted to feel comfortable with my decision. My parents put no pressure on me."
T.J. did, however, know his father went through the same recruiting period following his high school career and used him as counsel.
"My dad just wanted to be there during the process," T.J. said. "He has been around college football and wanted to be around the coaches and get a feel for them. He came with me to Columbus and really liked coach (Jim) Tressel and coach (Jim) Bollman. He was sold on Ohio State more than he was Michigan. That's saying a lot coming from a Michigan alum."
One might think those were tough words for a former Michigan star to say, but Walt could not be happier with T.J.'s choice in Ohio State.
"People at Michigan thought he was going to gravitate to them because I played there," Walt said. "Coach Tressel and coach Bollman made such a commitment going after T.J. and Ohio State had the great recruiting class with T.J.'s group, he felt comfortable with Ohio State.
"I think T.J. has made the best decision of his life in going to Ohio State. He has four major bowl victories and two Big Ten titles under his belt and was part of a national championship. Does it get any better than that?"
Needless to say, T.J.'s choice to play football at Ohio State has caused his father to catch some grief from some of the Michigan contingent.
"I was at a Michigan function a couple years back and ran into Bo Schembechler, my head coach," Walt said. "Coach Schembechler came up to me and said `Walt, how could you let your son go play for Ohio State?' He would not speak to me the rest of the night."
Either way, if you ask Walt, he'll show you what colors he wears now, regardless of the situation.
"I love Michigan. Don't get me wrong," Walt said. "I was at the Ohio State-Michigan game last year. We had 240 former Michigan players back for the alumni game. All of us wore our "M" letterman jacket.
"I was down on the field before the game. I went to the Ohio State endzone and T.J. came over and told me to show the team what I was about. I took off my "M" jacket and showed them I was wearing T.J.'s Fiesta Bowl jersey.
Troy Smith came over and gave me a big hug. I stood on the sideline with those guys for the national anthem. It was the best feeling. My Blue blood is great, but T.J. is my main man and that's what it's all about."
